I feel the Need for Speed (and my first P)

[Ric5]

I am really feeling the need to get a P bass but I don't know too much about them. After some research, I believe I have it narrowed down to about three options since my budget is around $1500-$1800. This is where I'm at:

A) a 51-57 p with the single coil... I have never played one but they look killer. I could also try the Mike Dirnt model because it still has basically a vintage look except for the pick-up.

B) a 1963 style three tone sunburst with the classic pup. They sound good but again have never actually played one. I call this the Classic option.

C) finally I could get a new professional P that just came out.

So I can reduce this decision down into three fundamental options: Vintage, Classic or Brand New. Which one would you go with? I need help from experienced P players to help guide me. With my limited budget, it puts constraints on my choice... Maybe I should save $ 300-500 more dollars? I really want a killer P though. What should I do?

Buy mim or Squire than you can get one of each for your price range.

Or I can say what I usually say ...

Build a parts bass ... then you get exactly what you want.

 

[inthebassclef]

Can't go wrong with a used Lakland USA or Skyline Glaub. Serious bang for buck, great feeling necks, build, etc.

Seriously +1

 

[sgtpepper]

Either the options you are considering are great basses. I would add the MIM Classic 50's series or the MIM Road Worn. Great basses for the buck.

 

[timsmcm]

I recently drove 2.5 hours to dallas and went to 6 different guitar shops. Not one had an american fender p. Saw 1 ebmm bass. I don't know if it was bad timing or what but I could not try anything that I would have liked to purchase. That did suck.

 

[Rumble Thunder]

I recently drove 2.5 hours to dallas and went to 6 different guitar shops. Not one had an american fender p. Saw 1 ebmm bass. I don't know if it was bad timing or what but I could not try anything that I would have liked to purchase. That did suck.

Dig, you can feel my pain then. I wish I could walk in a Fender P store and try out about a dozen of those bad boys!

 

[timsmcm]

I myself can't believe with all the guitar stores in the dfw area that I could not find a few upper end fenders, custom shop or avri.

 

[Lammchop93]

Dig, you can feel my pain then. I wish I could walk in a Fender P store and try out about a dozen of those bad boys!

what part of KY are you in?

 

[pbass2]

Totally agree. I have the Skyline. It's also known as the 44-64 (or 55-64 for the 5 string).

I have a very early USA Glaub I got used around 10 years ago. While a 1.75" neck is not my first preference in a P neck(smallish hands) and I've contemplated letting it go over the years because of that . . . the damn thing is SO perfectly built, gorgeous to look at, sounds amazing and plays amazing (the Lakland necks are fantastic, "wide" or not) that apparently (after 10 years!) it's not going anywhere!

 

[Rumble Thunder]

what part of KY are you in?

Im about ten miles south of Pikeville.